Background: I checked 28 Days out from the library several years ago. I didn’t expect to like it (I checked it out due to boredom), but I really did. When I found it in Walmart’s $5.50 bin, I bought it. I’ve perhaps watched it twice prior this project.
Reactions: While not my favorite alcoholism movie—that would be When a Man Loves a Woman—I greatly enjoy this glimpse into the life of an alcoholic. I have no idea how accurate this portrayal of rehab is, so I can’t speak to that aspect of the movie. I just know that it's interesting and entertaining!
I especially appreciate that the movie doesn’t tie everything up into a neat bow. Gwen (Bullock) is sent to rehab after drunkenly stealing and crashing a limo at her sister’s wedding. While at the rehab ranch, she meets a variety of addicts. Some of them seem well on their way to recovery; others struggle, relapse, and even die. Gwen and Eddie (Mortensen), a professional baseball player she meets in rehab, definitely have a connection, but they never get together, and as the film ends, the audience doesn't know whether they'll ever see each other again. I like it that way; it feels more authentic than a classic chick flick end-of-movie coupling.
I’m not a huge fan of many special features; in contrast to my sister who could spend hours listening to commentary and watching every extra, I find most special features to be boring or just dumb. However, one of the special features on this dvd is Santa Cruz, the fictional soap opera that plays a prominent role in the plotline. It runs a full 20 minutes, features some real soap actors, and alludes to some of the story shown in the movie. Twenty minutes is a little long for this over-the-top soap spoof, but it does make for one of the more interesting special features I’ve seen.
Verdict: Keep
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